STRATEGIC CONFERENCE THEMES
1. Building a more accessible, affordable and sustainable power system
Demand for electricity is soaring. Disruptive new power-hungry data centres, the electrification of transport, heating and cooling, and the push to advance energy access in line with Sustainable Development Goal 7, is fuelling unprecedented global electricity demand growth. As we enter the age of electricity, it is critical that power systems remain affordable, secure and sustainable – requiring unprecedented levels of cooperation between policy makers, regulators, utilities, technology providers and financial institutions.
2. Putting water at the heart of energy and climate adaptation plans
Water scarcity is a global crisis that is set to grow both in terms of severity and in people affected by it. In many parts of the world, demand for water already exceeds supply and by 2030, the gap between supply and demand is projected to reach close to 40% globally. Utilities, governments, NGOs, academia, and the private sector all have a key role to play in developing and scaling the solutions needed to close the gap and safeguard the water needed to allow people, communities and economies to thrive as our climate changes.
3. Unlocking the potential of AI and clean technologies
AI presents a unique opportunity to transform the power sector, enhancing efficiency, optimising grids, and accelerating the transition to net zero. As such, it has increasingly become a central pillar of the sector’s innovation agenda offering a pathway to a smarter, more resilient energy system. However, AI's rising electricity demands from data centres, requires urgent adaptation. Power systems must expand renewable capacity, improve grid flexibility, and enhance flexibility at a speed and scale unprecedented in recent times. Coordinated action from governments, businesses, and markets is essential to harness AI’s potential while ensuring a sustainable, resilient, and equitable energy future.
4. Prioritising flexibility solutions for more resilient energy
As power generation becomes increasingly dominated by renewables, the need for flexibility solutions grows. According to IRENA, in a 2050 net-zero energy system solar and wind account for 90% of generation, making flexibility on both the supply and demand sides central to maintaining a stable, responsive, and resilient grid. Gas, battery storage, grid interconnections, and demand response are among the tools available. Careful and strategic system planning is essential to ensure flexibility options are optimised and tailored to geographic contexts.
5. Adopting strategic capital reallocation and innovative financing models
Driving sustainable growth in utilities hinges on innovative financing and strategic investment. Models like green bonds and public-private partnerships are vital for funding clean energy supply, resilient water systems, and grid modernisation. Global grid spending is set to reach $811 billion by 2030 in Bloomberg NEF's net zero scenario, driven by rapid growth in clean power, electric vehicles and other low-carbon technologies. Emerging strategies may include innovative project financing and development, and climate finance mechanisms as well as the integration of digital solutions and even fintech to secure the required finance.
6. Shaping policies and partnerships for the future of utilities
Achieving a low-carbon, interconnected energy future demands urgent action and bold innovation across the sector. Rapid demand growth is accelerating the pace of change for utilities, while decarbonisation goals and the expansion of clean energy are reshaping traditional system management. The way utility companies engage with policymakers, suppliers, customers and with each other, has transformed dramatically in the last decade. Platforms like the Utilities for Net Zero Alliance (UNEZA), launched under the UAE’s COP28 Presidency in 2023, are an example of the need for utilities to embrace a new era of collaboration and engagement with all stakeholders as the sector navigates a transformative new era.
Minister of Energy & Infrastructure
Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure, UAE
Chairman
Department of Energy - Abu Dhabi, UAE
Minister of Electricity & Water Affairs
Kingdom of Bahrain
Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development & Environment
Republic of Cyprus
Minister of Energy
Sri Lanka
Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development
Sri Lanka
Minister of Hydraulics & Sanitation
Mauritania
Deputy Minister of Energy
Azerbaijan
Secretary General & CEO
World Energy Council
Group CEO & MD
TAQA
MD & CEO
Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC)
Group CEO
Emsteel
CEO
Alterra
Director General
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
CEO
Ansaldo Energia
Group CEO
South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA)
Director General
The Energy & Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA)
CEO
TAQA Generation
CEO
Dalkia
CEO
CTC Global
Director General
World Nuclear Association (WNA)
CEO
Tabreed
Chairwoman & CEO
EDF Renewables
CEO
TAQA Transmission
Founder, Chairman & CEO
ReNew Energy
CEO
Etihad Water & Electricity
CEO
Net Zero Technology Centre
CEO
TAQA Water Solutions
CEO
TAQA Energy Services
Chairwoman
Kuwait Water Association
CEO
Desolenator
CEO
Middle East, EDF
CEO
Siemens Middle East
CEO - Water
SUEZ
CEO
Newen Systems
Co-CEO & Founder
GRFN
Group Chief Strategy Officer
TAQA Group
MD & Co-Founder
Future Energy Ventures
Founder & CEO
MediSun Energy
Founder & CEO
Pegasus Capital Investments
Founder & MD
AlliedOffsets
CEO - Cable Business Unit
Dubai Cable Company - Ducab
Global Industry Director for Energy, Metals & Mining, and Sustainable Infrastructure Advisory
International Finance Corporation (IFC)
CEO
Granular Energy
CEO
ENEC Consulting
CEO
UTEC
CEO
Enercap
CEO
Nexus Resilience Group
CEO
ZETA Global
COO
TAQA Water Solutions
COO
Tabreed
COO
Mubadala Energy
Chief Development Officer - Water
Acciona
Chief Corporate Support Officer
Mubadala Energy
Chief Technology Officer, Middle East & Africa
Siemens Energy
Chief Strategy & Development Officer
Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC)
Chief Projects Officer
TAQA Transmission
CFO
Masdar
Acting CFO
ADNOC Distribution
CTO
IFS
Founder & President
Green Hope Foundation
MD
Iberdrola Innovation Middle East
Executive Director – Sustainable Finance, AME
Standard Chartered Bank
MD - Flexible Power GCC
Engie
Head of AI
AIQ
Chief Transformation & Business Excellence Officer
Emicool
CTO | Smart PV & ESS Business
Huawei
Board Member
Siemens Energy
EVP - Customer Affairs Operations
TAQA Distribution
First Secretary on Climate, Energy & Environment
German Embassy
Gulf Countries President
Schneider Electric
SVP, Chief Nuclear Strategy Officer & MD of EPRI Gulf, Chair - U.S. Member Committee, World Energy Council
EPRI Gulf
SVP, Group HC Strategy and Organization Effectiveness
ADNOC
SVP Energy International
Minsait
Co-chair – Digitalization in Energy Task Force
United Nations Economic Commission - Europe
SVP, Gas Services, MENA
Siemens Energy
SVP - Strategic Planning and Business Performance
Tadweer Group
SVP APJMEA
Copperleaf
Energy Policy Expert
Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, UAE
VP - Contracts Management
Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC)
VP
Atoco
VP
Veolia Water Technologies
VP
TerraPower
Global Head for Water, Cities, Waste & Circularity
International Finance Corporation (IFC)
Head of Advisory for Central Europe
Aurora Energy Research
Partner & VP
IBM
Executive Director, Strategy & Planning
Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC)
Head of Corporate Payments Sales, MENA
J.P. Morgan
Executive Director
The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative
Vice Chancellor for AI & Operational Excellence
Abu Dhabi University
MD - Middle East
Isle Utilities
Head - Regulation, Policy & certification
Masdar
Director - Sustainability Growth, MCA Region
Bureau Veritas
Hub Digital Leader - India, Middle East & Africa
ABB Energy Industries
MD & Energy Business Director
Wartsila Middle East
MD
SSEN Transmission
MD, Energy & Power - Middle East
Jacobs
President Engineering & Maintenance International
Bilfinger
Director of the water research center
NYUAD
Director – Energy Plus Group
Société Générale
Director, Technology and Innovation
Halliburton Labs
Anchor & Correspondent
CNBC
Senior Fellow, Centre for Energy & Materials
World Economic Forum
Geo Economics Editor
The National
Presenter & Moderator
Voice Media London
CEO
BNC Network
Awareness & Behavioral Change Senior Specialist
Department of Energy - Abu Dhabi
Director of Future Energies Middle East
Wood
Senior Director
APCO
Partner
McKinsey
Partner, Power & Utilities
EY Parthenon (Strategy)
Partner, Director & Global Lead of Energy Networks Business Segment
Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
Partner & Associate Director
Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
Partner & Associate Director
Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
Principal
Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
Partner
PwC Middle East
Partner
McKinsey
Partner
Deloitte
Associate Partner
McKinsey
Senior Expert
McKinsey
Partner
Deloitte
Partner
KPMG
MD, Energy Strategy & Performance Transformation
KPMG, UK
